Some 250,000 residents in Wisconsin use propane to heat their homes. It's especially common in rural areas.

Part of the problem is a lack of supply which is raising prices by 17% compared to last year.

Wisconsin governor Scott Walker announced Monday that the state is releasing 16 million dollars in energy assistance benefits to help low-income people and to help providers get more propane. "As prices have gone up, and as demand has gone up, that no one is in a position where they can't heat their home," said Gov. Walker.

Across the U.S., about 12-million people are affected by the shortage.

Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin sent a letter to President Obama this weekend urging him to help the American people. "These bitter cold weeks that we've had this winter, not just one, but arctic chill after arctic chill, and we're going through one right now. It is more important than ever that people who use propane for their home heat have access to affordable supplies," said Sen. Baldwin.

While the propane supply is low domestically, exports have more than doubled in the last year.

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